Operation method of nuclear power plant

ABSTRACT

In a nuclear power plant, thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from thermal power in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle by at least one operation cycle. A proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, with respect to a flow rate of main steam, is reduced in the second operation cycle from that in the first operation cycle such that the temperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater is lowered by 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2005-021835, filed Jan. 28, 2005 and 2005-066498, filed Mar. 10,2005, and is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/340,643, filed Jan.27, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,233; the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an operation method of a nuclear powerplant and to a nuclear power plant. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to an operation method of a nuclear power plant and toa nuclear power plant, which are suitable for an uprate of normaloperation power output of a nuclear power plant.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a newly constructed nuclear power plant, electric power has hithertobeen uprated, for example, by improving the fuel makeup or the shape andmakeup of a fuel assembly so as to increase the flow rate of main steamat a core outlet.

Such related art is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP,A 9-264983).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When the above-mentioned related art is applied to the existing nuclearpower plant, the rate of core flow passing through a reactor core issubstantially the same as that before the power uprate, while thermalpower of the core is increased. In a boiling water reactor (BWR),therefore, an average void rate (proportion of steam with respect to thechannel volume) in the core is increased. Accordingly, the flow speed ofa coolant is increased and so is a pressure loss in the core. Also, withan increase in the amount of steam generated in the core, a pressureloss in a water-steam two-phase flow section is increased and a marginof core safety tends to reduce. Further, an increase of the average voidrate in the core increases an amount of steam condensed in the so-calledpressure transient state where pressure rises, for example, when agenerator load is cut off, thus resulting in a larger amount of decreaseof the average void rate in the core. Generally, the boiling waterreactor has a negative void feedback coefficient so that the reactorpower reduces as the void rate increases. In the pressure transientstate, however, the average void rate in the core is reduced and thereactor power is increased. Thus, the related art has a possibilitythat, after the power uprate, the amount of decrease of the average voidrate in the core is increased in the pressure transient state and adesign margin for pressure transient events is reduced.

Meanwhile, the flow rate of main steam is increased substantially inproportion to an increase of the power uprate. The increased flow rateof main steam reduces design margins of almost all equipment, such asfeedwater equipment including feedwater piping, a feedwater heater, afeedwater pump, etc., pressure vessel internals including a dryer, etc.,a main steam line, a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, anda condenser. In a usual nuclear power plant employing a boiling waterreactor, the high pressure turbine is one of the equipment with apossibility that the design margin is first lost with the increase inthe flow rate of main steam. Also, in a nuclear power system other thanthe boiling water reactor, a similar problem arises in a plant where thedesign margin for the high pressure turbine is relatively small.Accordingly, when the related art is applied to the existing nuclearpower plant, large-scaled improvement and replacement of plant equipmentare required. The increase in the flow rate of main steam can besuppressed by lowering the feedwater temperature. However, such asolution is not realistic for the reason that, if the flow rate of steamextracted for heating the feedwater is simply reduced as a whole,thermal efficiency is noticeably deteriorated and the electric power isnot increased in proportion to the core thermal power output.

An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method ofa nuclear power plant, which can uprate plant power without greatlymodifying the construction of plant equipment, while keeping a core'spressure loss characteristic, a safety margin, and a design margin inthe transient state substantially the same as those before the poweruprate.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, assuming that one operation cycle is defined as a period froma time at which a nuclear power plant starts operation to a time atwhich the nuclear power plant stops the operation for fuel exchange,second reactor thermal power in a second operation cycle of a nuclearreactor is uprated from first reactor thermal power in a first operationcycle preceding the second operation cycle at least one operation cycle,and a proportion of steam extracted from a steam system and introducedto a feedwater heater, which is in particular extracted from anintermediate point of a high pressure turbine and an outlet thereof(practically, some point in a section ranging from the outlet of thehigh pressure turbine to an inlet of one of a moisture separator, amoisture separator and heater, and a moisture separator and reheater),with respect to a flow rate of main steam is reduced in the secondoperation cycle from a proportion in the first operation cycle such thattemperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater lowers inthe range of 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.

To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, second reactor thermal power in a second operation cycle of anuclear reactor is uprated from first reactor thermal power in a firstoperation cycle preceding the second operation cycle at least oneoperation cycle, and a mass flow rate of steam extracted from a steamsystem and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is in particularextracted from an intermediate point and an outlet of a high pressureturbine, is reduced in the second operation cycle from a mass flow rateof steam extracted in the first operation cycle such that temperature offeedwater discharged from the feedwater heater lowers in the range of 1°C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.

To achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of thepresent invention, second reactor thermal power in a second operationcycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from first reactor thermal powerin a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle at leastone operation cycle, and a temperature rise in one of a plurality offeedwater heaters, particularly a high pressure feedwater heaterinstalled downstream of a main feedwater pump, is reduced in the secondoperation cycle such that temperature of feedwater discharged from thefeedwater heater lowers in the range of 1° C. to 40° C. in the secondoperation cycle.

To achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of thepresent invention, second reactor thermal power in a second operationcycle of a nuclear reactor is uprated from first reactor thermal powerin a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle at leastone operation cycle, and at least one of extraction lines for extractingsteam from a steam system and introducing the extracted steam to afeedwater heater, which is in particular extended from an intermediatepoint and an outlet of a high pressure turbine, is shut off such thattemperature of feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater lowers inthe range of 1° C. to 40° C. in the second operation cycle.

To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, second reactor thermal power (Q2) in a second operation cycleof a nuclear reactor is uprated A % from first reactor thermal power(Q1) in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle atleast one operation cycle, and a proportion of steam extracted from asteam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is inparticular extracted from an intermediate point of a high pressureturbine and an outlet thereof (practically, some point in a sectionranging from the outlet of the high pressure turbine to an inlet of oneof a moisture separator, a moisture separator and heater, and a moistureseparator and reheater), with respect to a flow rate of main steam inthe second operation cycle is kept equivalent to or reduced from aproportion in the first operation cycle such that the following formulaeare satisfied;0<A≦5, andT2≦T1−7.7×(Q2−Q1)/(4.5×W)where temperature of the feedwater discharged from the feedwater heaterin the first operation cycle is T1 (° C.), temperature of the feedwaterdischarged from the feedwater heater in the second operation cycle is T2(° C.), and a core flow rate of the feedwater flowing into the nuclearreactor in the second operation cycle is W (kg/s).

To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, second reactor thermal power (Q2) in a second operation cycleof a nuclear reactor is uprated A % from first reactor thermal power(Q1) in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle atleast one operation cycle, and a proportion of steam extracted from asteam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is inparticular extracted from an intermediate point of a high pressureturbine and an outlet thereof (practically, some point in a sectionranging from the outlet of the high pressure turbine to an inlet of oneof a moisture separator, a moisture separator and heater, and a moistureseparator and reheater), with respect to a flow rate of main steam inthe second operation cycle is kept equivalent to or reduced from aproportion in the first operation cycle such that the following formulaeare satisfied;5<A≦10, andT1−40≦T2≦T1−7.7×(Q2×(A+95)/100−Q1)/(4.5×W)where temperature of the feedwater discharged from the feedwater heaterin the first operation cycle is T1 (° C.), temperature of the feedwaterdischarged from the feedwater heater in the second operation cycle is T2(° C.), and a core flow rate of the feedwater flowing into the nuclearreactor in the second operation cycle is W (kg/s).

To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, second reactor thermal power (Q2) in a second operation cycleof a nuclear reactor is uprated A % from first reactor thermal power(Q1) in a first operation cycle preceding the second operation cycle atleast one operation cycle, and a proportion of steam extracted from asteam system and introduced to a feedwater heater, which is inparticular extracted from an intermediate point of a high pressureturbine and an outlet thereof (practically, some point in a sectionranging from the outlet of the high pressure turbine to an inlet of oneof a moisture separator, a moisture separator and heater, and a moistureseparator and reheater), with respect to a flow rate of main steam inthe second operation cycle is kept equivalent to or reduced from aproportion in the first operation cycle such that the following formulaeare satisfied;10<A<30, andT2≦T1−7.7×(Q2×(A+90)/100−Q1)/(4.5×W)where temperature of the feedwater discharged from the feedwater heaterin the first operation cycle is T1 (° C.), temperature of the feedwaterdischarged from the feedwater heater in the second operation cycle is T2(° C.), and a core flow rate of the feedwater flowing into the nuclearreactor in the second operation cycle is W (kg/s).

To achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of thepresent invention, a nuclear power plant comprises an extracted flowcontrol valve disposed in at least one extraction line; a temperaturesensor disposed in a feedwater system at a point between adjacent two ofa plurality of feedwater heaters disposed in the feedwater system or ata point downstream of one of the plurality of feedwater heaters which ispositioned most downstream; and an extracted flow controller foroutputting an opening request command for the extracted flow controlvalve based on a measured value from the temperature sensor and a setvalue of feedwater temperature, wherein the nuclear power plant isoperated such that second nuclear thermal power in a second operationcycle of the nuclear reactor is uprated from first nuclear thermal powerin a first operation cycle before the second operation cycle, and secondfeedwater temperature in the second operation cycle is made lower thanfirst feedwater temperature in the first operation cycle.

Since the feedwater temperature can be adjusted to a set value throughcontrol of the opening of the extracted flow control valve, it ispossible to suppress variations in the amount of power generated duringthe power uprate operation of the nuclear power plant.

To achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of thepresent invention, a nuclear power plant comprises an extracted flowcontrol valve and an extraction flow rate measuring meter disposed in atleast one extraction line; and an extracted flow controller foroutputting an opening request command for the extracted flow controlvalve based on a measured value from the extraction flow rate measuringmeter and a set value of a flow rate of the extracted steam, wherein thenuclear power plant is operated such that second nuclear thermal powerin a second operation cycle of the nuclear reactor is uprated from firstnuclear thermal power in a first operation cycle before the secondoperation cycle, and second feedwater temperature in the secondoperation cycle is made lower than first feedwater temperature in thefirst operation cycle.

To achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of thepresent invention, a nuclear power plant comprises an extracted flowcontrol valve disposed in at least one extraction line; at least onemain steam flow rate measuring meter disposed in a steam system betweenthe nuclear reactor and the high pressure turbine; and an extracted flowcontroller for outputting an opening request command for the extractedflow control valve based on a measured value from the main steam flowrate measuring meter and a set value of a flow rate of the main steam,wherein the nuclear power plant is operated such that second nuclearthermal power in a second operation cycle of the nuclear reactor isuprated from first nuclear thermal power in a first operation cyclebefore the second operation cycle, and second feedwater temperature inthe second operation cycle is made lower than first feedwatertemperature in the first operation cycle.

According to the present invention, in trying to uprate power of theexisting nuclear power plant, the power uprate of the nuclear powerplant can be realized without greatly modifying the construction of thenuclear power plant, while keeping a core's pressure losscharacteristic, a safety margin, a thermal margin, and a design marginin the transient state substantially the same as those before the poweruprate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view showing the overall construction ofa boiling water reactor system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention along with heat balance obtained by an operationmethod according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic view showing heat balance in the boilingwater reactor system before power uprate;

FIG. 3 is an overall schematic view showing heat balance in the boilingwater reactor system when the known power uprate method is applied;

FIG. 4 graphically shows the relationships of operation cycle versusreactor thermal power, flow rate of main steam and flow rate ofextracted steam;

FIG. 5 graphically shows the relationships of operation cycle versusreactor thermal power, flow rate of main steam and flow rate ofextracted steam;

FIG. 6 graphically shows the relationships of operation cycle versusreactor thermal power, flow rate of main steam and flow rate ofextracted steam;

FIG. 7 is an overall schematic view showing the overall construction ofa boiling water reactor system equipped with a moisture separator andheater or a moisture separator and reheater;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a boiling water reactor power plantaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing control logic in an extracted flow ratecontroller shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a boiling water reactor power plantaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a boiling water reactor power plantaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing control logic in an extracted flow ratecontroller shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a boiling water reactor power plantaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a boiling water reactor power plantaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing control logic in an extracted flow ratecontroller shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a pressurized water reactor power plantaccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a pressurized water reactor power plantaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a pressurized water reactor power plantaccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a pressurized water reactor power plantaccording to a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a pressurized water reactor power plantaccording to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment represents the case where the present invention isapplied to a boiling water reactor system as one of nuclear powerplants.

The overall construction of the boiling water reactor system accordingto this embodiment will be first described with reference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a reactor pressure vessel.Recirculation pumps and jet pumps are installed outside and inside thereactor pressure vessel 1 to regulate the rate of flow passing through acore (i.e., a core flow rate). The reactor pressure vessel 1 and itsinternals constitute a reactor 21, and steam generated in the reactor 21is supplied to a steam system 22. The steam system 22 comprises a mainsteam line 2, a high pressure turbine 3 and a low pressure turbine 5connected to the main steam line 2 in series, and a moisture separator 4disposed between the high pressure turbine 3 and the low pressureturbine 5. A section including the high pressure turbine 3, whichextends from a reactor outlet to an inlet of the low pressure turbine 5,constitutes a high pressure steam system 22A, and a section extendingfrom the inlet of the low pressure turbine 5 to an inlet of a condenser6 constitutes a low pressure steam system 22B. The condenser 6 condensessteam discharged from the low pressure turbine 5. The condensatecondensed by the condenser 6 is supplied as feedwater to a feedwatersystem 23. The feedwater system 23 heats the feedwater and returns it tothe reactor 21. The feedwater system 23 includes a main feedwater pump8, a low pressure feedwater heater 7 installed downstream of thecondenser 6 and upstream of the main feedwater pump 8 and heating thefeedwater supplied from the condenser 6, and a high pressure feedwaterheater 9 installed downstream of the main feedwater pump 8 and upstreamof the reactor 21. The feedwater discharged from the high pressurefeedwater heater 9 is introduced to the reactor 21 via a feedwater line24.

Extraction lines 25, 26, 27 and 28 for extracting steam from the steamsystem 22 and introducing the extracted steam to the high pressurefeedwater heater 9 and the low pressure feedwater heater 7 are disposedbetween the steam system 22 and corresponding one of the high pressurefeedwater heater 9 and the low pressure feedwater heater 7. Theextraction line 25 extracts steam from an intermediate point of the highpressure turbine 3 and introduces the steam to the high pressurefeedwater heater 9. The extraction line 26 extracts steam from an outletof the high pressure turbine 3 (actually some point downstream of theoutlet of the high pressure turbine 3 and upstream of an inlet of themoisture separator 4) and introduces the steam to the high pressurefeedwater heater 9. The extraction line 27 extracts steam from anintermediate point of the moisture separator 4 and introduces the steamto the low pressure feedwater heater 7. The extraction line 28 extractssteam from an intermediate point of the low pressure turbine 5 andintroduces the steam to the low pressure feedwater heater 7. Anextraction line flow adjusting valve 10, i.e., extracted steam amountadjusting means for adjusting an extracted steam amount introduced fromthe intermediate point of the high pressure turbine 3 to the highpressure feedwater heater 9, is disposed in the extraction line 25.

The operation method of the thus-constructed nuclear power plantaccording to this embodiment will be described below. In FIGS. 1, 2 and3, to explain heat balances, the reactor thermal power is represented byQ, the mass flow rate of water and steam is represented by G, and theenthalpy of water and steam is represented by H. The thermal power Q andthe mass flow rate G are expressed by ratios (%) relative to the reactorthermal power and the steam flow rate at an outlet of a reactor pressurevessel, respectively, when the reactor is in the state before poweruprate as shown in FIG. 2. The enthalpy is expressed by a numericalvalue in units of (kJ/kg). Note that each embodiment of the presentinvention represents the ordinary operation state and excludes thestartup and shutdown states, the transient state, the operation statewhere the core thermal power is changed by moving a control rod positionin a core to change the control rod pattern etc., and the operationstate in the event of an accident.

In the heat balances shown in FIGS. 1-3, as mentioned above, the thermalpower Q and the mass flow rate G are expressed by ratios (%) relative tothe reactor thermal power and the steam flow rate at the outlet of thereactor pressure vessel, respectively, when the reactor is in the statebefore power uprate as shown in FIG. 2. According to the operationmethod of this embodiment, as seen from the heat balances shown in FIGS.1-3, when second reactor thermal power in a second operation cycle(FIG. 1) of the reactor 21 is uprated from first reactor thermal power(FIG. 2) in a first operation cycle (FIG. 2) prior to the secondoperation cycle (i.e., Q=100→105), a proportion (13/100) of the massflow rate (G=3+10=13) of steam extracted from the high pressure steamsystem 22A in the second operation cycle with respect to the mass flowrate (G=100) of main steam at the reactor outlet is reduced from aproportion (19/100) of the mass flow rate (G=9+10=19) of steam extractedfrom the high pressure steam system 22A and introduced to the feedwaterheater 9 in the first operation cycle with respect to the mass flow rate(G=100) of main steam at the reactor outlet (i.e., 19/100→13/100). Also,the temperature of the feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater 9is lowered in the second operation cycle (H=832) from that in the firstoperation cycle (H=924). As described later, an extent to which thefeedwater temperature is lowered in the second operation cycle from thatin the first operation cycle is in the range of 1° C. to 40° C.Incidentally, one operation cycle is a period from a time at which thereactor operation is started up from the shutdown state to a time atwhich the reactor operation is shut down for fuel exchange. Further, thefeedwater temperature is one measured at the period of the ratedoperation (maximum power output operation), but not the period of thepartial power output operation such as the process of starting up andshutting down, as stated later.

Looking from another aspect, according to the operation method of thisembodiment, the mass flow rate (G=3+10=13) of steam extracted from thehigh pressure steam system 22A is reduced (G=19→13) in the secondoperation cycle (FIG. 1) from the mass flow rate (G=9+10=19) of steamextracted from the high pressure steam system 22A and introduced to thefeedwater heater 9 in the first operation cycle (FIG. 2), and thetemperature of the feedwater discharged from the feedwater heater 9 islowered in the second operation cycle from that in the first operationcycle. Alternatively, it can also be said that, by making a temperaturerise in the feedwater heater 9 during the second operation cycle(FIG. 1) smaller than a temperature rise in the feedwater heater 9during the first operation cycle (FIG. 2), the temperature of thefeedwater discharged from the feedwater heater 9 is lowered in thesecond operation cycle (H=832) from that in the first operation cycle(H=924).

The operation method of this embodiment will be described in more detailbelow.

FIG. 4 graphically shows the relationships of operation cycle versusreactor thermal power, flow rate of main steam (amount of steam flowingfrom the reactor pressure vessel 1 to the main steam line 2), and flowrate of extracted steam in this embodiment as compared with the poweruprate by the known method. Note that one operation cycle is defined asa period from a time at which the reactor operation is started up fromthe shutdown state to a time at which the reactor operation is shut downfor fuel exchange. Further, the feedwater temperature is one measured atthe period of the rated operation (maximum power output operation), butnot the period of the partial power output operation such as the processof starting up and shutting down, as stated later.

Of operation cycles shown in FIG. 4, the N-th operation cycle representsa cycle before the power uprating method of the present invention isapplied. At that time, the reactor thermal power is Q=100%. FIG. 2 showsone example of heat balance prior to the power uprate. The (N+1)-thoperation cycle represents a cycle in which the reactor thermal power isuprated 5% to obtain Q=105%. Means for uprating the reactor thermalpower can be realized by increasing the amount of withdrawal of acontrol rod in the (N+1)-th operation cycle from that in the N-thoperation cycle, or by raising the rotation speed of the recirculationpump to increase the core flow rate in the (N+1)-th operation cycle fromthat in the N-th operation cycle, or by modifying the kind of a fuelassembly. Also, because the temperature of the feedwater supplied to thereactor pressure vessel 1 is lowered with application of the presentinvention, it is expected that the reactor thermal power is naturallyuprated with coolant density feedback as a result of lowering of thecoolant temperature at a core inlet. In some plant, the flow rate of theextracted steam and the flow rate of the main steam are changed duringone operation cycle as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows an example inwhich, in the (N+1)-th operation cycle, the reactor thermal power isreduced midway one operation cycle with a drop of core reactivity,whereupon the flow rate of the extracted steam and the flow rate of themain steam are reduced (coasted down). Other than the operation cycleshown in FIG. 5, the reactor power is also temporarily reduced, forexample, when the amount of insertion of the control rod in the core ischanged. For those reasons, in this embodiment, the heat balance, theflow rate of the extracted steam, the flow rate of the main steam, thecore flow rate, the feedwater temperature, the reactor thermal power,the extent of heating of the feedwater, etc. are compared at anoperation point where the flow rate of the main steam is maximizedduring the operation cycle, except for the startup and shutdown states,the operation state where the core thermal power is changed by operatingthe control rod, in the event of an accident or a transient phenomenon,and the test operation. In other words, such an operation point means apoint where the reactor thermal power is maximized during the operationcycle. Further, when the thermal power is 100% in the (N−1)-th operationcycle, but the thermal power is largely reduced from the rated power of100% for some reason in the N-th cycle as shown in FIG. 6, the (N−1)-thoperation cycle represents the cycle before the present invention isapplied (i.e., the first operation cycle), and the (N+1)-th operationcycle represents the cycle in which the present invention is applied(i.e., the second operation cycle).

When the reactor thermal power is uprated, the flow rate of thefeedwater has to be increased or the enthalpy difference of a coolantbetween the inlet and the outlet of the reactor pressure vessel has tobe increased in order to remove heat that has increased in amountcorresponding to the power uprate. The known power uprating methodemploys the former manner; namely it increases the flow rate of thefeedwater in proportion to the reactor thermal power. An example of heatbalance according to the known power uprating method is shown in FIG. 3.As a result of the known power uprating method, the flow rate of themain steam in the (N+1)-th operation cycle is increased to 105% as shownin FIG. 4. The present invention employs the latter manner; namely itintentionally reduces the coolant enthalpy at the inlet of the reactorpressure vessel, to thereby increase the enthalpy difference between theinlet and the outlet of the reactor pressure vessel. The coolantenthalpy at the inlet of the reactor pressure vessel can be reduced byreducing the flow rate of extracted steam from the steam system 22 andsupplied to the feedwater heater 9. However, if the flow rate of theextracted steam is simply reduced as a whole, the thermal efficiency islargely reduced and the amount of generated power cannot be soincreased. Such a reduction of the thermal efficiency can be suppressedby selectively reducing the extraction of steam from the high pressuresteam system 22A, which is constituted by the section including the highpressure turbine 3 and extending from the reactor outlet to the inlet ofthe low pressure turbine 5. The reason is that the steam in the highpressure steam system 22A has higher energy than the steam in the lowpressure steam system 22B, which is constituted by the section extendingfrom the inlet of the low pressure turbine 5 to the inlet of thecondenser 6, and a thermal loss is reduced by selectively reducing theextraction of steam from the high pressure steam system 22A, whereby thereduction of the thermal efficiency resulting from the power uprate canbe suppressed. To selectively reduce the extraction of steam from arelatively high energy portion in the high pressure steam system 22A andto suppress the reduction of the thermal efficiency, in this embodiment,the flow rate of steam extracted from an intermediate point of the highpressure turbine 3 or the outlet of the high pressure turbine 3(actually some point between the outlet of the high pressure turbine 3and the inlet of the moisture separator 4) is selectively reduced sothat the flow rate of steam flowing into the low pressure turbine 5 isincreased and the amount of generated power is increased. A large partof the steam extracted from the intermediate point of the high pressureturbine 3 or the outlet of the high pressure turbine 3 is used in thehigh pressure feedwater heater 9 installed downstream of the mainfeedwater pump 8. Looking from another aspect, therefore, the poweruprating method according to the present invention can also be said as amethod of reducing the extent of adding the thermal energy to thefeedwater in the region downstream of the main feed water pump 8.

In a plant where the flow rate of steam extracted from the intermediatepoint of the high pressure turbine 3 or the outlet of the high pressureturbine 3 is originally small, the flow rate of steam extracted from thelow pressure turbine 5 has to be also reduced in order to sufficientlylower the feedwater temperature. Even when the present invention isapplied to such a plant, a certain effect can be obtained by reducingthe flow rate of steam extracted from the intermediate point of the highpressure turbine 3 or the outlet of the high pressure turbine 3 to alarger extent. With this embodiment, in spite of increasing the reactorthermal power by 5% as compared with the N-th operation cycle, the flowrate of the main steam can be kept the same as that in the N-thoperation cycle. Because this embodiment is described in connection withthe ideal power uprating method, the flow rate of the main steam is thesame in both the N-th operation cycle and the (N+1)-th operation cycle.However, the flow rate of the main steam is not always required to bethe same in those operation cycles, and the flow rate of the main steammay be increased within the range of a design margin of the equipmentincluding the high pressure turbine 3.

When there are a plurality of extraction points usable to reduce theflow rate of the extracted steam, i.e., when there are a plurality ofextraction points midway the high pressure turbine 3 or at the outlet ofthe high pressure turbine 3, a maximum effect can be obtained byselecting the most upstream extraction point. In such a case, while theextraction line flow adjusting valve 10 for controlling the flow rate ofthe extracted steam may be disposed to reduce the flow rate of theextracted steam, one or more of the extraction lines may be completelyclosed as an alternative manner. To close the extraction line, ashut-off valve is disposed midway the extraction line, or the extractionline is plugged. When the extraction line is completely closed,equipment for controlling the flow rate of the extracted steam is notrequired and the operation control is simplified. Whether to control theflow rate of the extracted steam or completely close the extraction linedepends on the heat balance and the extent of power uprate in the plant.(In the case where the flow rate of the extracted steam per extractionline is too large, the feedwater temperature is excessively lowered ifthe extraction line is completely closed. Therefore, the flow rate ofthe extracted steam is adjusted in that case.)

According to this embodiment, even when the reactor thermal power isuprated to increase the amount of power generated in the nuclear powerplant, increases of both the flow rate of the feedwater and the flowrate of the main steam can be suppressed, whereby an increase of burdensimposed on the feedwater line 24, the main steam line 2, and thepressure vessel internals can be suppressed. As compared with the caseof simply reducing the flow rate of the extracted steam as a whole, itis possible to suppress decrease of the thermal efficiency and to obtainlarger electric power. Further, although the high pressure turbine 3must be usually replaced when power is uprated to a large extent by theknown power uprating method, this embodiment can provide a wider poweruprate range available without replacing the high pressure turbine 3than that provided by the known method.

With the operation method of this embodiment, the feedwater temperatureis lowered. The lowering of the feedwater temperature lowers the coolanttemperature at the core inlet and increase the thermal margin of thecore (corresponding to MCPR (Minimum Critical Power Ratio) in BWR), thusresulting in an advantage of ensuring higher safety than that obtainedwith the known power uprating method. The conventional power uprateincreases the core pressure loss and reduces the safety margin if thesame fuels are used. In contrast, the power uprating method of thepresent invention lowers the coolant temperature at the core inlet andreduces the void rate and the absolute value of the void coefficient inthe core. Therefore, the core pressure loss is reduced and a reductionof the safety margin of the core is suppressed. Further, the designmargin for the pressure rising transient state is increased with thereduction of the void rate and the absolute value of the voidcoefficient in the core.

Thus, the lowering of the feedwater temperature is effective insuppressing the deterioration of core characteristics and the reductionof the design margin in the boiling water reactor during the powerupdate operation. Generally, because feedwater temperature control isnot especially performed in the boiling water reactor, the feedwatertemperature may change to the extent of smaller than 1° C. even in thesame boiling water reactor and at the same core thermal power due tochange of heat balance in the entire plant, in particular temperaturechange of the coolant (seawater in many cases) that is used to condensethe steam by the condenser 6 shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, anextent to which the feedwater temperature is lowered is set to about 20°C. Regarding the extent to which the feedwater temperature should belowered to compensate for the deterioration of the core characteristicsin the power uprate operation, however, the effect of this embodimentcan be obtained with a significant result by lowering the feedwatertemperature by a value of not smaller than 1° C. that corresponds to themagnitude at which the feedwater temperature is changed in the ordinaryoperation. In addition, when the feedwater enters the reactor pressurevessel 1, it is mixed with water at the saturation temperature insidethe reactor. Accordingly, there is a temperature difference between thefeedwater line 24 and the pressure vessel 1. If the feedwatertemperature is too lowered, the temperature difference in such a mixingarea is increased, thus causing a risk that a design limit is exceededfrom the viewpoint of thermal fatigue. From this point of view, a limitof the extent to which the feedwater temperature should be lowered fromthe current operation temperature is 40° C.

The reduction of the core pressure loss means that an increase of loadsimposed on the jet pump and the recirculation pump, which are used forrecirculation of the coolant, due to the power uprate can also besuppressed. Further, since the amount of increase in quantity of steamgenerated in the core is comparatively smaller than that of the thermalpower, an influence upon the carry under caused by entrainment with therecirculation water can also be kept small and the flow window can beeasily ensured even in the case of large power uprate.

Table 1, given below, shows the relationships among the reactor thermalpower, the flow rate of the main steam, the flow rate of the extractedsteam, and the enthalpy of the feedwater when the power uprating methodof this embodiment is applied to the cases of uprating the power atvarious rates. Each value of the reactor thermal power and the flow rateof the main steam represents a ratio relative to that at 100% of thereactor thermal power, and a value of the flow rate of the extractedsteam represents a ratio relative to the flow rate of the main steam at100% of the reactor thermal power. As seen from Table 1, the poweruprating method of this embodiment can be applied over a wide rangeincluding even the case where the reactor thermal power is uprated to110%. The reason why Table 1 shows only the power uprate up to 110% isthat the power uprate in excess of 110% requires replacement of themoisture separator 4. If the replacement of the moisture separator 4 isallowed or a combination with, e.g., an increase of the core pressureand/or with employment of a moisture separator and reheater isconsidered, the power uprating method of this embodiment can be appliedover a wider range of power uprate.

In the boiling water reactor, uprate of the reactor thermal power up toabout 102% is generally feasible just by increasing the measurementaccuracy of a feedwater flowmeter, etc. Therefore, the present inventionis more effective when applied to the case of uprating the reactorthermal power in excess of 102%. Further, at the power uprate up toabout 105% of the reactor thermal power, substantial change of systemequipment, e.g., replacement of the high pressure turbine 3, is notrequired in general. The effect of this embodiment is especiallynoticeable when applied to the uprate of the reactor thermal power inexcess of 105% because the replacement of the high pressure turbine 3 isnot required even in that case.

TABLE 1 Reactor Flow rate of Enthalpy of thermal Flow rate of extractedfeedwater power (%) main steam (%) steam (%) (kJ/kg) 100 100 45 924 103100 43 869 105 100 42 831 107 100 40 795 110 100 38 739 110 105 42 831

In view of the above-mentioned fact that substantial change of systemequipment, e.g., replacement of the high pressure turbine 3, is notrequired in general at the ordinary power uprate up to about 105% of thereactor thermal power, an application method of this embodiment may bechanged between the case of uprating the reactor thermal power at a rateof not larger than 5% and the case of uprating the reactor thermal powerat a rate of larger than 5%. More specifically, because the replacementof the high pressure turbine 3 is not required when the increase rate ofthe reactor thermal power is not larger than 5%, it is primarilyintended to keep the above-mentioned core characteristic (core averagevoid rate) the same as that before the power uprate. Assuming that thereactor thermal power before the power uprate is Q1 (kW), the reactorthermal power after the power uprate is Q2 (kW), and the increase rateof the power uprate is A (%), the power uprate of not larger than 5% isexpressed by A≦5. Also, on an assumption that the core flow rate afterthe power uprate is W (kg/s), the specific heat at constant pressure atabout 200° C. under 7 MPa, i.e., the operating pressure in a typicalboiling water reactor, is about 4.5 (kJ/kg·K), and a proportion of theflow rate of the feedwater with respect to the core flow rate in thetypical boiling water reactor is about 13%, the condition for keepingthe core average void rate the same as that before the power uprate isgiven as follows.

Change in thermal value of the feedwater per 1° C. of the feedwatertemperature is expressed by:W (kg/s)×13(%)/100(%)×4.5 (kJ/kg·K)=W×13/100×4.5 (kW/K)Assuming here that the feedwater temperature before the power uprate isT1 and the feedwater temperature after the power uprate is T2, thefeedwater temperature T2 required to reduce the thermal value of thefeedwater, which is equivalent to the thermal value (Q2−Q1) (kW)corresponding to the power uprate, is determined by the followingequation:Q2−Q1=W×13/100×4.5×(T1−T2)

In order to hold the core characteristics equivalent to or better thanthose before the power uprate, the feedwater thermal value is justrequired to be reduced by an amount of not smaller than the thermalvalue increased with the power uprate. The condition to meet such arequirement is expressed by:Q2−Q1≦W×13/100×4.5×(T1−T2)This formula is rewritten into:T2≦T1−7.7×(Q2−Q1)/(4.5×W)Stated another way, by setting the feedwater temperature so as tosatisfy the above formula in the case of the power uprate of not largerthan 5%, the core characteristics, such as the thermal margin, thepressure loss characteristic, the safety margin, and the design marginin the transient state of the core, can be basically held equivalent toor better than those before the power uprate. Further, since the flowrate of the main steam is kept equivalent to or reduced from that beforethe power uprate, the design margin of the main steam system, includingthe high pressure turbine and the dryer, can also be held equivalent toor better than those before the power uprate.

A description is made of the feedwater temperature when the nuclearthermal power is uprated at a rate of larger than 5%, but not largerthan 10%. When the nuclear thermal power is uprated at a rate of largerthan 5% by the known power uprating method, the flow rate of the mainsteam is also increased in excess of 5%, thus generally resulting inthat the design margin of equipment, e.g., the high pressure turbine, isexceeded. Therefore, such equipment has to be replaced. In that case, bylowering the feedwater temperature as in this embodiment, the increasein the flow rate of the main steam can be held not larger than 5%.

Assuming here that the increase in the flow rate of the main steam up to5% is allowed, a reduction of the feedwater thermal value required whenthe power uprate is increased at A (%) corresponds to the power increaseof (A−5) % and is expressed by:Q2×(A−5+100)/100−Q1=Q2×(A+95/100)−Q1On the assumption that the feedwater temperature before the power uprateis T1 and the feedwater temperature after the power uprate is T2, theabove thermal value can be offset when T1 and T2 satisfy the followingformula:Q2×(A+95/100)−Q1=W×13/100×4.5×(T1−T2)Thus, the increase in the flow rate of the main steam can be held notlarger than 5% by satisfying:Q2×(A+95/100)−Q1≦W×13/100×4.5×(T1−T2)With rewrite of this formula, T2 is expressed by:T2≦T1−7.7×(Q2×(A+95)/100)−Q1)/(4.5×W)In the case of the power uprate being larger than 5%, but not largerthan 10%, therefore, if the feedwater temperature T2 satisfies the aboveformula, the power uprate can be realized within the range of the designmargin of the high pressure turbine, etc. and the replacement of suchequipment is not required. Further, the design margins of the highpressure turbine and the core can be held equivalent to or larger thanthose resulting at the power uprate of 5% by the known method.

At the power uprate in excess of 10%, it is generally required in theboiling water reactor to replace, e.g., the moisture separator inaddition to the high pressure turbine, etc. This problem can be overcomeby lowering the feedwater temperature in a similar manner to hold theincrease in the flow rate of the main steam to be not larger than 10% sothat the replacement of the moisture separator is not required. Thecondition of meeting such a requirement in this case is given as followsfor the rate A (%) of the power uprate based on the same concept as thatwhen the power uprate is larger than 5%, but not larger than 10%:Q2×(A−10+100)/100−Q1≦W×13/100×4.5×(T1−T2)With rewrite of this formula, T2 is expressed by:T2≦T1−7.7×(Q2×(A+90)/100−Q1)/(4.5×W)This indicates an extent of lowering of the feedwater temperature withinwhich the replacement of the moisture separator is not required at thepower uprate of larger than 10%. In that case, the design margins of thehigh pressure turbine and the core can also be held equivalent to orlarger than those resulting at the power uprate of 10% by the knownmethod.

At any of the power uprate of not larger than 5%, the power uprate oflarger than 5%, but not larger than 10%, and the power uprate of largerthan 10%, the extent of lowering of the feedwater temperature in excessof 40° C. is undesired in practice from the viewpoint of thermalfatigue. Also, as the power uprate increases, the thermal margin of thecore is reduced. It can be generally said that the thermal margin of thecore is bearable for the power uprate up to about 20% by employing newfuel. Another conceivable solution is to improve, e.g., a pump forincreasing the core flow rate. Even in consideration of such animprovement as well, the power uprate at a rate of about 30% is regardedto be a limit from the viewpoint of the core characteristics. Further,looking at the equipment side, the power uprate over 30% is also notdesired in practice because such large power uprate exceeds the designlimits of the low pressure turbine and the condenser, which are moreexpensive than the high pressure turbine, and hence requires replacementof those other units of equipment.

According to this embodiment, for the power uprate of not larger than5%, the power uprate can be realized while holding the design margins ofthe high pressure turbine and the core equivalent to or larger thanthose before the power uprate. For the power uprate of larger than 5%,but not larger than 10%, the power uprate can be realized up to 10%while holding the design margins of the high pressure turbine and thecore equivalent to or larger than those resulting at the power uprate of5% by the known method. For the power uprate of larger than 10%, thepower uprate can be realized in excess of 10% with no need of replacingthe moisture separator, etc. while holding the design margins of themoisture separator and the core equivalent to or larger than thoseresulting at the power uprate of 10% by the known method.

The present invention can be modified in various ways without beingrestricted to the above-described embodiment. For example, in theboiling water reactor system, a moisture separator and heater or amoisture separator and reheater 11, shown in FIG. 7, may be used insteadof the moisture separator 4. Even in that case, although a steamextraction line 31 and a drain line 32 are added, the operation methodof the present invention can be applied as in the above-describedembodiment and can provide similar advantages without causingsubstantial change with regards to main parameters, such as thefeedwater temperature and the flow rate of the main steam.

While the above embodiment is described as applying the presentinvention to the boiling water reactor power plant, the presentinvention is applicable to a pressurized water reactor system as well.

Second Embodiment

Another embodiment of the present invention in which the invention isapplied to the boiling water reactor power plant as one of nuclear powerplants will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The samecomponents as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the samenumerals.

As in the first embodiment, the boiling water reactor power plant ofthis embodiment comprises a reactor pressure vessel 1, a main steam line2, a high pressure turbine 3 and a low pressure turbine 5 connected tothe main steam line 2 in series, and a moisture separator 4 (or amoisture separator and heater) disposed in the main steam line 2 betweenthe high pressure turbine 3 and the low pressure turbine 5. A lowpressure feedwater heater 7, a feedwater pump 8, and a high pressurefeedwater heater 9 are installed in a feedwater system 23 downstream ofa condenser 6.

When the reactor thermal power is uprated, the flow rate of thefeedwater has to be increased or the enthalpy difference of the coolantbetween the inlet and the outlet of the reactor pressure vessel 1 has tobe increased in order to remove heat that has increased in amountcorresponding to the power uprate. The known power uprating methodemploys the former manner; namely it increases the flow rate of thefeedwater in proportion to the reactor thermal power. On the other hand,as a new power uprating method, there is also proposed a method ofsuppressing increases of both the flow rate of the main steam and theflow rate of the feedwater in the power uprate operation based on thelatter manner by intentionally reducing the coolant enthalpy(temperature) at the inlet of the reactor pressure vessel, to therebyincrease the enthalpy difference between the inlet and the outlet of thereactor pressure vessel. This embodiment is adapted for such a new poweruprating method and requires additional equipment for widening afeedwater temperature controllable range so that the feedwatertemperature is lowered to a value beyond the range estimated in thestage of plant construction.

The necessity of widening the feedwater temperature controllable rangetoward the lower temperature side in turn requires the flow rate ofsteam extracted for heating the feedwater to be reduced in comparisonwith that before the power uprate. The steam extracted from the highpressure turbine 3 for heating the feedwater is introduced to the highpressure feedwater heater 9 via extraction lines 25 and 26. Also, thesteam extracted from the low pressure turbine 5 is sent to the lowpressure feedwater heater 7 via an extraction line 28. An extracted flowcontrol valve 38 is disposed in the extraction line 25 to adjust theflow rate of the extracted steam. In the boiling water reactor powerplant of this embodiment, a plurality of main extraction lines areinstalled downstream of the inlet of the high pressure turbine andupstream of the outlet of the low pressure turbine.

In the boiling water reactor power plant of this embodiment to which theabove-mentioned new power uprating method is applied, it is importantthat the feedwater temperature be surely lowered to a preset value. Forthat reason, a feedwater temperature sensor 39 is disposed in thefeedwater system 23 downstream of the high pressure feedwater heater 9that is located most downstream in the feedwater system 23. Thefeedwater temperature sensor 39 measures the temperature of thefeedwater discharged from the high pressure feedwater heater 9 andoutputs a feedwater temperature measured value signal 41. An extractedflow controller 40 controls the opening of the extracted flow controlvalve 38 to adjust the flow rate of the extracted steam. The feedwatertemperature sensor 39 is disposed in the feedwater system 23 downstreamof the high pressure feedwater heater 9, to which the extracted steam issupplied at the adjusted flow rate, and upstream of the inlet of thereactor pressure vessel 1. Alternatively, the feedwater temperaturesensor 39 may be disposed between the high pressure feedwater heater 9and another suitable feedwater heater installed downstream of theformer.

One example of control logic executed by the extracted flow controller40 in the second embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 9. The extracted flow controller 40 receives the feedwatertemperature measured value signal 41 outputted from the feedwatertemperature sensor 39 and a feedwater temperature set value signal 42.Based on the feedwater temperature measured value signal 41 and thefeedwater temperature set value signal 42, the extracted flow controller40 produces an opening demand signal 43 and outputs the opening demandsignal 43 to the extracted flow control valve 38. If the measured valueof the feedwater temperature is lower than the set value of thefeedwater temperature, this means that the flow rate of the extractedsteam is insufficient. Therefore, the extracted flow controller 40outputs the opening demand signal 43 to increase the opening of theextracted flow control valve 38. Conversely, if the measured value ofthe feedwater temperature is higher than the set value, this means thatthe flow rate of the extracted steam is too large. Therefore, theextracted flow controller 40 outputs the demand signal 43 to reduce theopening of the extracted flow control valve 38.

According to this embodiment, since the feedwater temperature can beadjusted to the set value through control of the opening of theextracted flow control valve 38, it is possible to suppress variationsin the amount of power generated during the power uprate operation ofthe nuclear power plant.

Also, according to this embodiment, since the feedwater temperature canbe always held at the set value, it is possible to suppress theincreases of both the flow rate of the main steam and the flow rate ofthe feedwater by lowering the feedwater temperature in the power uprateoperation of the reactor. Further, since the feedwater temperature canbe adjusted in real time, even in the case of changing the thermal powerof the nuclear power plant, the operation method of this embodiment isadaptable for the load following operation of the nuclear power plant bymodifying the set value of the feedwater temperature depending on thechange of the thermal power, while the flow rate of the main steam andthe flow rate of the feedwater are held constant.

Third Embodiment

A boiling water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 10.

This third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that,instead of the feedwater temperature sensor 39, an extraction flowmeter44 is disposed in the extraction line 25 in which the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 is disposed. The extracted flow controller 40 receivesa measured value from the extraction flowmeter 44 and a set value of theflow rate of the extracted steam. The extraction flowmeter 44 measuresthe flow rate of the extracted steam supplied to the high pressurefeedwater heater 9. The extracted flow control valve 38 and theextraction flowmeter 44 may be disposed in the extraction line 25irrespective of which one of them is positioned upstream of the other.When the extraction line 25 is merged midway with another extractionline (e.g., the extraction line 26), one of the extracted flow controlvalve 38 and the extraction flowmeter 44, which is positioned on thedownstream side, may be disposed in the extraction line 25 downstream ofthe merging point between the two extraction lines. Also, when theextraction line 25 is branched midway, one of the extracted flow controlvalve 38 and the extraction flowmeter 44, which is positioned on thedownstream side, may be disposed in a line after being branched. If thereactor thermal power, the flow rate of the feedwater, and the flow rateof the extracted steam are known, the feedwater temperature is uniquelydecided from the heat balance of the nuclear power plant. Accordingly,measuring the flow rate of the extracted steam by the extractionflowmeter 44 disposed in the extraction line 25, as in this embodiment,is equivalent to measurement of the feedwater temperature.

In this embodiment, the extracted flow controller 40 receives anextracted flow measured value signal 45 outputted from the extractionflowmeter 44 and a set value signal 42A for the flow rate of theextracted steam. Based on the extracted flow measured value signal 45and the extracted flow set value signal 42A, the extracted flowcontroller 40 outputs an opening demand signal 43 for the extracted flowcontrol valve 38. The opening of the extracted flow control valve 38 iscontrolled in accordance with the opening demand signal 43. If themeasured value of the flow rate of the extracted steam is smaller thanthe set value of the flow rate of the extracted steam, this means thatthe flow rate of the extracted steam is insufficient. Therefore, theextracted flow controller 40 outputs the opening demand signal 43 toincrease the opening of the extracted flow control valve 38. Conversely,if the measured value of the flow rate of the extracted steam is largerthan the set value, this means that the flow rate of the extracted steamis too large. Therefore, the extracted flow controller 40 outputs theopening demand signal 43 to reduce the opening of the extracted flowcontrol valve 38. This third embodiment can also provide similaradvantages to those obtainable with the second embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

A boiling water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (fourth embodiment) of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 11. In this fourth embodiment,both the technical ideas of the second and third embodiments arecombined with each other. More specifically, the feedwater temperaturesensor 39 is disposed in the feedwater system 23 as in the secondembodiment, and the extraction flowmeter 44 is disposed in theextraction line 25 as in the third embodiment. With such an arrangement,the extracted flow controller 40 in this fourth embodiment performs thecontrol based on the flow rate of the extracted steam and the controlbased on the feedwater temperature. FIG. 12 shows one example of controllogic used in this fourth embodiment. A certain time delay occurs fromadjustment of the extracted flow control valve 38 to actual change ofthe feedwater temperature. In this embodiment, therefore, the controlbased on the flow rate of the extracted steam is performed with prioritywhen the flow rate of the extracted steam is fluctuated at a shortcycle, and the control based on the feedwater temperature is performedwith priority when the feedwater temperature continues to lower or risefor a relatively long time. In practice, as shown in FIG. 12, the setvalue of the flow rate of the extracted steam is determined through thecontrol based on the feedwater temperature, and the opening commandsignal 43 for the extracted flow control valve 38 is outputted based onthe difference between the determined set value and the measured valueof the flow rate of the extracted steam. This fourth embodiment can alsoprovide similar advantages to those obtainable with the secondembodiment.

Fifth Embodiment

A boiling water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (fifth embodiment) of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 13.

In this fifth embodiment, a main steam flowmeter 46 is disposed in themain steam system 2 between the reactor pressure vessel 1 and the highpressure turbine 3. If the reactor thermal power and the flow rate ofthe main steam are known, the feedwater temperature is uniquely decidedfrom the heat balance of the nuclear power plant. Accordingly, measuringthe flow rate of the main steam by the main steam flowmeter 46 disposedin the main steam system 22, as in this fifth embodiment, is equivalentto the measurement of the feedwater temperature in the secondembodiment. The arrangement of this fifth embodiment is similar to thatof the second embodiment except that the main steam flowmeter 46 isdisposed instead of the feedwater temperature sensor 39 and theextracted flow controller 40 controls the extracted flow control valve38 in accordance with the measured value from the main steam flowmeter46.

In this embodiment, the extracted flow controller 40 receives amain-steam flow measured value signal 47 outputted from the main steamflowmeter 46 and a set value signal 48 for the flow rate of the mainsteam. Then, the extracted flow controller 40 produces an opening demandsignal 43 based on those two signals and outputs it to the extractedflow control valve 38. If the measured value of the flow rate of themain steam is smaller than the set value of the flow rate of the mainsteam, this means that the feedwater temperature is too low, namely theflow rate of the extracted steam is insufficient. Therefore, theextracted flow controller 40 outputs the opening demand signal 43 toincrease the opening of the extracted flow control valve 38. Conversely,if the measured value of the flow rate of the main steam is larger thanthe set value, this means that the feedwater temperature is too high,namely the flow rate of the extracted steam is too large. Therefore, theextracted flow controller 40 outputs the opening demand signal 43 toreduce the opening of the extracted flow control valve 38. This fifthembodiment can also provide similar advantages to those obtainable withthe second embodiment.

Sixth Embodiment

A boiling water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (sixth embodiment) of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 14. In this sixth embodiment, the technicalideas of the second, third and fifth embodiments are combined together.More specifically, the feedwater temperature sensor 39 is disposed inthe feedwater system 23 as in the second embodiment, the extractionflowmeter 44 is disposed in the extraction line 25 as in the thirdembodiment, and the main steam flowmeter 46 is disposed in the mainsteam system 2 as in the fifth embodiment. With such an arrangement, theextracted flow controller 40 in this sixth embodiment performs thecontrol based on the flow rate of the main steam, the control based onthe flow rate of the extracted steam, and the control based on thefeedwater temperature. FIG. 15 shows one example of control logic usedin this sixth embodiment. A certain time delay occurs from adjustment ofthe extracted flow control valve 38 to actual change of the flow rate ofthe main steam, and another certain time delay also occurs, though beingshorter than the time delay regarding the flow rate of the main steam,from adjustment of the extracted flow control valve 38 to actual changeof the feedwater temperature. On the other hand, a time delay fromadjustment of the extracted flow control valve 38 to actual change ofthe flow rate of the extracted flow is short. In this embodiment,therefore, the control based on the flow rate of the extracted steam isperformed with priority when the flow rate of the extracted steam isfluctuated at a short cycle, and the control based on the feedwatertemperature is performed with priority when the feedwater temperaturecontinues to lower or rise for a relatively long time. Further, thecontrol based on the flow rate of the main steam is performed withpriority when the flow rate of the main steam continues to increase orreduce for a relatively long time. In practice, as shown in FIG. 15, theset value of the feedwater temperature is determined through controlbased on the flow rate of the main steam, and the set value of the flowrate of the extracted steam is determined based on the differencebetween the determined set value and the measured value of the feedwatertemperature. Then, the opening demand signal 43 for the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 is outputted based on the difference between thedetermined set value and the measured value of the flow rate of theextracted steam. This sixth embodiment can also provide similaradvantages to those obtainable with the second embodiment.

Instead of the above-described arrangement, the main steam flowmeter 46and the feedwater temperature sensor 39 may be disposed to perform thecontrol based on the flow rate of the main steam and the control basedon the feedwater temperature. Further, the main steam flowmeter 46 andthe extraction flowmeter 44 may be disposed to perform the control basedon the flow rate of the main steam and the control based on the flowrate of the extracted steam.

Generally, when the flow rate of the extracted steam is reduced to lowerthe feedwater temperature, the thermal efficiency of the plant isreduced. In order to suppress such a reduction of the thermalefficiency, it is preferable to reduce the flow rate of the steamextracted from the extraction point that is positioned as close aspossible to the uppermost side. Therefore, a greater effect can beobtained by installing the extracted flow control valve 38 in theextraction line for extracting the steam from a point downstream of theinlet of the high pressure turbine and upstream of the inlet of thelower pressure turbine. While the extracted flow control valve 38 isdisposed only in one extraction line in the second to sixth embodiments,the feedwater temperature cannot be sufficiently lowered in some casesby reducing the flow rate of the extracted steam through only oneextraction line. In such a case, the extracted flow control valve 38 isdisposed in plural extraction lines.

In the boiling water reactor power plant, as mentioned above, uprate ofthe reactor thermal power up to about 102% is generally feasible just byincreasing the measurement accuracy of the feedwater flowmeter 39, etc.,and the feedwater temperature is not required to be lowered in such anuprate range. In the boiling water reactor power plant, therefore, thecontrol of the feedwater temperature described in the second to sixthembodiments is more effective when applied to the case of uprating thereactor thermal power in the range of larger than 102%, but smaller than105%. Further, at the uprate of the nuclear thermal power in the rangeof 105% to 120%, substantial change of system equipment, e.g.,replacement of the high pressure turbine 3, is not required in general.The effects of those embodiments are especially noticeable when appliedto the uprate of the reactor thermal power in excess of 105% because thereplacement of the high pressure turbine 3 is not required even in thepower uprate operation in excess of 105% by employing the power upratingmethod of lowering the feedwater temperature according to the presentinvention.

Seventh Embodiment

While the second to sixth embodiments have been described in connectionwith the case where the power uprating method of lowering the feedwatertemperature is applied to the boiling water reactor power plant, thefollowing description is made of an example in which the power upratingmethod is applied to a pressurized water reactor power plant as one ofreactor power plants.

The pressurized water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (seventh embodiment) of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 16. Feedwater temperature controllogic used in this seventh embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.9.

In this seventh embodiment, a steam generator 49 is newly installed inaddition to the construction of the second embodiment such that aprimary loop and a secondary loop are formed. The primary loop is acirculation loop starting from the reactor pressure vessel 1, passingthe steam generator 49, and returning to the reactor pressure vessel 1.The secondary loop is formed by connecting both the main steam system 2and the feedwater system 23 in the second embodiment to the steamgenerator 49. The high-temperature coolant generated from the reactorpressure vessel 1 is supplied to the steam generator 49 and is returnedto the reactor pressure vessel 1 after the coolant temperature has beenlowered. In the steam generator 49, the feedwater supplied from thefeedwater system 23 is heated by the high-temperature coolant to becomesteam. The secondary steam delivered from the steam generator 49 isintroduced to the high-pressure turbine 3, the moisture separator andheater 24, and the low-pressure turbine 5 through the main steam line 2.The steam discharged from the low-pressure turbine 5 is condensed by thecondenser 6 to become water. This water is fed to the steam generator 49through the feedwater system 23 in which the low pressure feedwaterheater 7, the feedwater pump 8, and the high pressure feedwater heater 9are disposed. Note that one operation cycle is defined as a period fromstartup of the reactor to the time at which the reactor is shut down forfuel exchange.

When the reactor thermal power is uprated, the amount of heat exchangein the steam generator 49 is increased substantially proportional to theamount of increase of the reactor thermal power. In order to offset theamount of heat exchange in the steam generator 49, the flow rate of thefeedwater supplied to the steam generator 49 has to be increased or theenthalpy difference of the coolant between the inlet and the outlet ofthe steam generator 49 has to be increased. The known power upratingmethod employs the former manner; namely it increases the flow rate ofthe feedwater in proportion to the amount of heat exchange in the steamgenerator 49. On the other hand, this embodiment employs the lattermanner, i.e., the new power uprating method. More specifically, in thisembodiment, increases of both the flow rate of the main steam and theflow rate of the feedwater in the power uprate operation are suppressedby intentionally reducing the coolant enthalpy (temperature) at theinlet of the steam generator 49, to thereby increase the enthalpydifference between the inlet and the outlet of the steam generator 49.Thus, this embodiment is adapted for the new power uprating method andrequires additional equipment for widening a feedwater temperaturecontrollable range so that the feedwater temperature is lowered to avalue beyond the range estimated in the stage of plant construction.

The necessity of widening the feedwater temperature controllable rangetoward the lower temperature side in turn requires the flow rate ofsteam extracted for heating the feedwater to be reduced in comparisonwith that before the power uprate. The extracted steam for heating thefeedwater is extracted from the main steam system 2 including the highpressure turbine 3 and the low pressure turbine 5, and is introduced tothe high pressure feedwater heater 9 and the low pressure feedwaterheater 7 via the extraction lines 25, 26 and 28, etc. In the pressurizedwater reactor power plant of this embodiment, a plurality of mainextraction lines are installed downstream of the inlet of the highpressure turbine and upstream of the outlet of the low pressure turbine.To reduce the flow rate of the extracted steam, an extracted flowcontrol valve 38 is disposed in the extraction line 25 to adjust theflow rate of the extracted steam.

When the above-mentioned new power uprating method of increasing theenthalpy difference of the coolant is employed, it is important that thefeedwater temperature be surely lowered to a preset value. For thatreason, as in the second embodiment, a feedwater temperature sensor 39is disposed in the feedwater system 23 downstream of the high pressurefeedwater heater 9 that is located most downstream in the feedwatersystem 23, and the opening of the extracted flow control valve 38 iscontrolled to adjust the flow rate of the extracted steam. The feedwatertemperature sensor 39 is disposed in the feedwater system 23 downstreamof the high pressure feedwater heater 9, to which the extracted steam issupplied at the controlled flow rate, and upstream of the inlet of thesteam generator 28. As an alternative, the feedwater temperature sensor39 may be disposed between the high pressure feedwater heater 9, towhich the extracted steam is supplied at the controlled flow rate, andanother suitable feedwater heater installed downstream of the former.Further, the sensor 39 may be disposed between an outlet of a highpressure feedwater heater installed most downstream and an inlet of thesteam generator 49.

One example of control logic executed by the extracted flow controller40 in the seventh embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 9. As in the second embodiment, the extracted flow controller 40controls the opening of the extracted flow control valve 38 inaccordance with the feedwater temperature measured value signal 41 andthe feedwater temperature set value signal 42, thereby controlling theflow rate of the extracted steam for heating the feedwater, which issupplied to the high pressure feedwater heater 9.

According to this embodiment, since the feedwater temperature can beadjusted to the set value through control of the opening of theextracted flow control valve 38, it is possible to suppress variationsin the amount of power generated during the power uprate operation ofthe nuclear power plant.

Also, according to this embodiment, since the feedwater temperature canbe always held at the set value, it is possible to suppress theincreases of both the flow rate of the main steam and the flow rate ofthe feedwater by lowering the feedwater temperature in the power uprateoperation of the reactor. Further, since the feedwater temperature canbe adjusted in real time, the operation method of this embodiment isadaptable for the load following operation of the nuclear power plant,as with the second embodiment, while the flow rate of the main steam andthe flow rate of the feedwater are held constant.

Eighth Embodiment

A pressurized water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (eighth embodiment) of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 17.

As in the third embodiment, this eighth embodiment includes, instead ofthe feedwater temperature sensor 39, an extraction flowmeter 44 disposedin the extraction line 25 in which the extracted flow control valve 38is disposed. Comparing with the arrangement of the seventh embodimentthat the extracted flow controller 40 controls the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 in accordance with the measured value from thefeedwater temperature sensor 39, this eighth embodiment is modified suchthat the extracted flow controller 40 controls the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 in accordance with the measured value from theextraction flowmeter 44.

The extracted flow control valve 38 and the extraction flowmeter 44 maybe disposed in the extraction line 25 irrespective of which one of themis positioned upstream of the other. When the extraction line 25 ismerged midway with another extraction line, one of the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 and the extraction flowmeter 44, which is positioned onthe downstream side, may be disposed in the extraction line 25downstream of the merging point between the two extraction lines. Also,when the extraction line 25 is branched midway, one of the extractedflow control valve 38 and the extraction flowmeter 44, which ispositioned on the downstream side, may be disposed in a line after beingbranched. If the reactor thermal power, the flow rate of the feedwater,and the flow rate of the extracted steam are known, the feedwatertemperature is uniquely decided from the heat balance of the nuclearpower plant.

As in the third embodiment, the extracted flow controller 40 controlsthe opening of the extracted flow control valve 38 in accordance withthe extracted flow measured value signal 45 and the extracted flow setvalue signal 42A. This eighth embodiment can also provide similaradvantages to those obtainable with the seventh embodiment.

Ninth Embodiment

A pressurized water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (ninth embodiment) of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 18. In this ninth embodiment, both thetechnical ideas of the seventh and eighth embodiments are combined witheach other. More specifically, the feedwater temperature sensor 39 isdisposed in the feedwater system 23 as in the seventh embodiment, andthe extraction flowmeter 44 is disposed in the extraction line 25 as inthe eighth embodiment. With such an arrangement, the extracted flowcontroller 40 in this seventh embodiment performs the control based onthe flow rate of the extracted steam and the control based on thefeedwater temperature. Control logic used in this ninth embodiment isthe same as that used in the fourth embodiment and shown in FIG. 12. Acertain time delay occurs from adjustment of the extracted flow controlvalve 38 to actual change of the feedwater temperature. In thisembodiment, therefore, the control based on the flow rate of theextracted steam is performed with priority when the flow rate of theextracted steam is fluctuated at a short cycle, and the control based onthe feedwater temperature is performed with priority when the feedwatertemperature continues to lower or rise for a relatively long time. Inpractice, as shown in FIG. 12, the set value of the flow rate of theextracted steam is determined through the control based on the feedwatertemperature, and the opening demand signal 43 for the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 is outputted based on the difference between thedetermined set value and the measured value of the flow rate of theextracted steam. This ninth embodiment can also provide similaradvantages to those obtainable with the seventh embodiment.

Tenth Embodiment

A pressurized water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (tenth embodiment) of the present invention will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 19. This tenth embodiment employs the mainsteam flowmeter 46 used in the fifth embodiment. The main steamflowmeter 46 is disposed in the main steam system 2 downstream of thesteam generator 49 and upstream of the inlet of the high pressureturbine 3. Comparing with the arrangement of the seventh embodiment thatthe extracted flow controller 40 controls the extracted flow controlvalve 38 in accordance with the measured value from the feedwatertemperature sensor 39, this tenth embodiment is modified such that theextracted flow controller 40 controls the extracted flow control valve38 in accordance with the measured value from the main steam flowmeter46.

As in the fifth embodiment, the extracted flow controller 40 receives amain-steam flow measured value signal 47 outputted from the main steamflowmeter 46 and a set value signal 48 for the flow rate of the mainsteam. Then, the extracted flow controller 40 produces an opening demandsignal 43 based on those two signals and controls the extracted flowcontrol valve 38 in accordance with the produced opening demand signal43. This tenth embodiment can also provide similar advantages to thoseobtainable with the seventh embodiment.

Eleventh Embodiment

A pressurized water reactor power plant according to still anotherembodiment (eleventh embodiment) of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 20. In this eleventh embodiment,the extraction flowmeter 44 and the main steam flowmeter 46 are added tothe arrangement of the seventh embodiment, as in the sixth embodiment.The extraction flowmeter 44 is disposed in the extraction line 25, andthe main steam flowmeter 46 is disposed in the main steam system 2between the steam generator 49 and the high pressure turbine 3. Withsuch an arrangement, the extracted flow controller 40 in this embodimentperforms the control based on the feedwater temperature, the controlbased on the flow rate of the main steam, and the control based on theflow rate of the extracted steam. Control logic used in this embodimentis the same as that shown in FIG. 15, and the extracted flow controller40 executes the control in the same manner as that in the sixthembodiment. This eleventh embodiment can also provide similar advantagesto those obtainable with the seventh embodiment.

Instead of the above-described arrangement, the main steam flowmeter 46and the feedwater temperature sensor 39 may be disposed to perform thecontrol based on the flow rate of the main steam and the control basedon the feedwater temperature. Further, the main steam flowmeter 46 andthe extraction flowmeter 44 may be disposed to perform the control basedon the flow rate of the main steam and the control based on the flowrate of the extracted steam.

While the seventh, eighth and tenth embodiments of the present inventionhave been described, by way of example, in connection with thepressurized water reactor, the present invention can also be applied toan indirect-cycle plant other than the pressurized water reactor.

Generally, when the flow rate of the extracted steam is reduced to lowerthe feedwater temperature, the thermal efficiency of the plant isreduced. In order to suppress such a reduction of the thermalefficiency, it is preferable to reduce the flow rate of the steamextracted from the extraction point that is positioned as possible asclose to uppermost side. In the seventh to eleventh embodiments,therefore, a greater effect can be obtained by installing the extractedflow control valve 38 in the extraction line for extracting the steamfrom a point downstream of the inlet of the high pressure turbine andupstream of the inlet of the lower pressure turbine. While the extractedflow control valve 38 is disposed only in one extraction line in theseventh to eleventh embodiments, the feedwater temperature cannot besufficiently lowered in some cases if the flow rate of the extractedsteam through only one extraction line is reduced. In such a case, theextracted flow control valve 38 is disposed in plural extraction lines.

In the pressurized water reactor power plant, uprate of the reactorthermal power up to about 102% is generally feasible just by increasingthe measurement accuracy of the feedwater flowmeter 39, etc., and thefeedwater temperature is not required to lowered in such an upraterange, as mentioned above. In the pressurized water reactor power plant,therefore, the control of the feedwater temperature described in theseventh to eleventh embodiments is more effective when applied to thecase of uprating the reactor thermal power in the range of larger than102%, but smaller than 105%. Further, at the uprate of the nuclearthermal power in the range of 105% to 120%, substantial change of systemequipment, e.g., replacement of the high pressure turbine 3, is notrequired in general. The effects of those embodiments are especiallynoticeable when applied to the uprate of the reactor thermal power inexcess of 105% because the replacement of the high pressure turbine 3 isnot required even in the power uprate operation in excess of 105% byemploying the power uprating method of lowering the feedwatertemperature according to the present invention.

1. A nuclear power plant comprising: a nuclear reactor; a steam systemincluding a high pressure turbine and a lower pressure turbine, whichare supplied with steam generated in said nuclear reactor; a condenserfor condensing the steam discharged from said low pressure turbine; aplurality of feedwater heaters for heating feedwater supplied from saidcondenser; at least one extraction line for extracting the steam fromsaid steam system and introducing the extracted steam to correspondingone of said feedwater heaters; a feedwater system for introducing thefeedwater from said condenser to said nuclear reactor via said feedwaterheaters; an extracted flow control valve disposed in said at least oneextraction line; a temperature sensor disposed in said feedwater systemat a point between adjacent two of said plurality of feedwater heatersdisposed in said feedwater system or at a point downstream of one ofsaid plurality of feedwater heaters which is positioned most downstream;and an extracted flow controller for outputting an opening requestcommand for said extracted flow control valve based on a measured valuefrom said temperature sensor and a set value of feedwater temperature,said nuclear power plant being operated such that second nuclear thermalpower in a second operation cycle of said nuclear reactor is upratedfrom first nuclear thermal power in a first operation cycle before thesecond operation cycle, and second feedwater temperature in the secondoperation cycle is made lower than first feedwater temperature in thefirst operation cycle.
 2. A nuclear power plant according to any one ofclaim 1, wherein said extraction line in which said extracted flowcontrol valve is disposed is an extraction line for extracting the steamfrom said steam system at a point downstream of a steam inlet of saidhigh pressure turbine and upstream of a steam outlet of said lowpressure turbine.
 3. A nuclear power plant according to any one of claim1, wherein the second nuclear thermal power is larger than the firstnuclear thermal power in the range of not less than 2% to less than 5%.4. A nuclear power plant according to any one of claim 1, wherein thesecond nuclear thermal power is larger than the first nuclear thermalpower in the range of 5% to 20%.